Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-02-23
GRAND EXCLUSION.
Washingtonss Birthday Celc
brated at NaOmrOvia.

brated at NiOmrOvtas
The excursion to Monrovia yesterday
was q monster affair. In addition to the
morning train to that place, eleven cars
packed full of passengers left thetDowney
avenue depot of the L. A. & S. G. V. K.
R., about half past 10 o'clock. with a
locomotive in front and rear, and passed
happily along till the train was passing
out of the switch, when the forward
| wheels of one OF the trucks of borrowed
car failed to follow the track and jumped
out of the switch. The wheels crushed
the ties and shook up the passengers for
few rods before both engines could be
stopped. The couplings were so prodigi.
ously strong that the train did not break
apart, and none of the appointments of
the cars were broken.
Timbers were procured, the train cut
in two and the car hauled on the track.
The track was soon made passable and
the train rolled on to Raymond. where
the John F. Godfrey Post, G. A. R., of
Pasadena, came ON board to greet the
members of the e. A. r. of the Depart.
ment of California, about four hundred
in number, who were invited to visit
Monrovia a, the guests of the citizens of
that delightful place.
While waiting for the track to be
mended at South Pasadena many tender.
feet enjoyed the luxury of picking sew
eral bushels Of oranges from the trees
beside the railway. One young tender
foot ia particular thought that good or.
anges like good apples would shake off
when ripe, and 50 shook trees vigorous
ly ill he was red in the face in the ex-
| pectation that the golden fruit would
shower down upon the ground in great
profusion, but the shower did not event
uate. A few small oranges that had
been pierced with thorns came down,
but the healthy fruit remained on the
branches, and the tenderfoot had to
jump up to seize the luscious globes.
The train arrived at Monrovia with
out further accident. and was met by
vast crowd that had come in teams, on
loot and on horse back from every direc.
ton to greet the G. A. K. of the Depart
ment of California and the various Posts
of the city and county, full list of
which appeared in the HERALD of yes.
terday.
About $50 vehicles of almost every de-
scription stood ready to receive the
guests. There were buggies, phe lions,
large and small carriages, spring wagons
from ono seat to four seats, carts, lumber
wagons, wagons with hay-racks and reg
ular passenger wagons, all of which were
soon filled with about 500 persons of both
sexes, while 1000 started up Myrtle ave.
nue. on foot. The sight was novel and
picturesque and should have been pho
tographed. Many of the teams returned
and took up loads of passengers q second
and third time.
When the vast concourse arrived at
| Oak Grove, where the collation. was
served, there were not less than 1000
persons present.
There were five tables, l50 feet each
in length, and the hungry crowd stood
about three deep on both sides, so that
at least 1000 persons were fed at time
with free lunch.
The ladies of the society of the Mon.
rovia Baptist Church had kitchen and
booth where they served fine lunch,
with tea and coffee, at twenty five cents
each, the proceeds to be devoted to fur
nishipg the new church now being com.
pleted at that place. They had hun.
dreds of customers and captured hand.
some sum for their enterprise.
General w. A. Pile was president of
the day and called the meeting to order.
In few happy remarks he introduced
the orator of the day, Mr.. B. N. Smith,
of Los Angeles, who delivered short
and eloquent oration, full of patriotic
sentiments, that were received with
great favor and applause, but lack of
space prevents its publication.
| A speech was expected from ex. Mayor
Spence, but that gentleman being unwell
he declined and retired to the Grand
View Hotel with General Miles and
General Vandever, both of whom de.
clined to make speeches.
After the collation. the people availed
themselves of the use OF the teams pres
ent to drive all over beautiful Monrovia
and the celebrated orchards of the Du.
arte, where monster navel oranges were
an astonishment to large number OF the
great assemblage. The majority of the
crowd made pedestrian tours over the
ooetouhCht ohu Satucteu pouquetS VI Wiid
flowers in abundance. All were de-
lighted with the grand prospect that was
spread out before them and surprised at
the great progress made within the past
year. The hotels were all filed with
guests, aud no pains were spared to
make everything pleasant. In addition
to the three hotels now in active use, a
large hotel is now being erected near the
new depot, which is being finished in a
| unique manner.
Mr.. and Mrs. Monroe seemed omni-
present at the picnic, and to their untir.
ing and intelligent efforts much of the
success Of the picnic is to be attributed.
Mr.. Keefer, of the Grand View, fairly
excelled himself in one of the finest
spreads of the season.
Much complaint was made that more
cars were not furnished for the o'clock
train where thousand persons tried to
pack themselves into three coaches.
The crush was terrible, and the cars
overcrowded till Pasadena was reached,
when more coaches were procured and
all reached Los Angeles in safety.